Fuel-supply apparatus



W. S. GUTHFHE.

FUEL SUPPLY APPARATUS. APVPLICATLON FILED JULY 5,1919.

Paiented No 23, 1920.

gvwmvtoz I William S. Guibrie 32W} 74/ v c How 3 FATE \IVILiLIAM S.GUTHRIE, OF TERRELL, TEXAS.

FUEL-SUPPLY APFABATUS.

Application filed July 5,

Improved Fuel-Supply Apparatus, of which.

the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fuel supply apparatus for causing liquidfuel to flow to the carbureter of an internal combustion engine from asupply tank positioned below the level of the carbureter.

The object of the invention is to provide an eflicient liquid fuelsupply apparatus for causing: liquid fuel to flowto the carburetor asfast as demanded by the engine when running under the most trying,conditions. Another object is to eliminate annoyances formerly had withfuel supply apparatus. A further objectis to eliminate the intermediatestorage reservoir between the carbureter reservoir and the vacuumchamber, as used in connection with other fuel supply devices.

Various as used in the past have had more or less objectionable featureswhich the present inventionis intended to eliminate; such for instanceas the danger of bursting the tank of the pressure feed type wherecompressedair inthe supply tank forces the fuel to the carbureter; andthe failure of the vacuum feed type to supply the fuel when as (endinglong hillsin an automobile; and the breaking of the diaphragms of othertypes.

'lhe'invention comprises a storage reservoir, a supply tank, anintermediate chamber forming a passagebetween the supply tank and thereservoir, preferably air pressure varying means for varying the airpressurein the intermediate chamber, so that su -atmospheric pressureand superatmospheric pressure is created in said chamber intermittentlywhen the engine is in operation, and thereby causing the liquid to besucked into said chamber from the supply tank, and forced therefrom intothe storage reservoir.

Onefeature of the invention resides in having a float arranged in thestorage reservoir so that the float controls the pumping of the ,fuelfrom the source of supply by causi'ngrthe flow to decrease with therising of thefioat and having an inlet and an outlet checkwalve for theintermediateor sucforms of fuel supply apparatus Specification ofLetters Patent. Patented N Q3 1926 1919. Serial N0. 308,309.

tion chamber, the said check valves being so positioned and arrangedthat the fuel flows in one direction only through the same throughoutthe operation of the fuel supply apparatus.

The invention also consists in matters hereinafter set forth and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims. i

The nature of the invention is such that the usual carbureter floatchamber may be employed as the storage reservoir since a uniform levelof the liquid may be main tained in the latter; but when desired thestorage reservoir of the'fuel supply apparatus may be employed as anauxiliary supply reservoir to feed the float chamber, or other reservoirof the carbureter.

Figure 1 illustrates the fuel supply system and shows a sectional. viewof one form of storage reservoir and intermediate chamber. and thearrangement of the check valves. Fin. 2 is an enlarged sectional view ofthe section adjacent the check valve 22. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view ofthe valve 15. Fig. a shows a sectional view of a modified form ofintermediate chamber. and the fuel passages shown diagrammatically. Fig.5,

is a View on line of Fig. 4, showing the arrangement of the check valvesand pasin practical form.

The air pressure varying means as shown may be the combustion chamber ofan internal combustion engine, or it may be a pump which consists of asliding piston positioned in a cylinder so that when the piston is moveddownward it causes the air pressure in the cylinder to fall below thatof atmospheric pressure, and the upward movement of the piston causesthe air pressure in the cylinder to rise above atmospheric pressure.

It is preferred that the piston be operated in some manner by the enginewhich is to be fed with fuel by the fuel supply system; and when desiredit is intended that the usual combustion chamber of an internalcombustion engine may be employed as the air pressure varying means forvarying he air pressure in the intermediate chamber; in fact it isintended that any known air pressure varying; means may be employed toaccomplish this purpose. The air pressure varies widely in the crankcase of some engines, and in some instances the i crank case maybeemployed as the air pressure varying means. It is prererred that theengine which is to be supplied with fuel be employed. to operate the airpressure varying means.

In Fig. 1, the pipe 1 connects the cylinder 2 with the intermediatechamber 3. The

downward movement, or suction stroke of the piston 4E causes the exhaustof air from the chamber 3. The air thus flowing from the chamber 3passes up through the passages 5, (3, 7, 8 and to the pipe 1 throughwhich it flows to the cylinder 2. The ball check valve 10 opens thepassage 8 when the piston moving downward to provide free access of thesuction to the chamber 3, and when the piston is moving upward,compressed air from the "cylinder 2 is forced into the intermediatechamber 3 through the bypass passage 7, which latter passage is smallenough to prevent excessive compres' sion forming in the chamber 3, andyet suffires for the purpose of forcing the liquid therefrom, ashereinafter described.

The pipe 11 connects the supply tank 12 with the intermediate chamber 3.The suction stroke of the piston 4- creates a partial vacuum in thechamber 3 and causes liquid from the tank 12 to pass up the pipe 1.1 andflow through the passage 13 and down the passages 14 around the valve 15and throu h the passage .16, then up past the ball clock valve 17 andthrough the ports 18 to the chamber 3. When the chamher 3 is filled to apredetermined level the float 19 rises up and presses against the collar20 on the valve 21 and causes the lat ter to raise and close of thepassage 8, and thus prevents the suction from sucking the liquid up intothe cylinder 2. The chamber 3 as shown is of cylindrical shape, and thefloat 19 is of a piston like nature. The valve 10 may be eliminated whenthe float, 19 is made to fit closely to the wall of the vacuum chamber 3so that the fire from the exhaust is prevented from reaching the liquidfuel below the float 19.

The compression stroke of'the piston causes air to flow back into thechamber 3 through the pipe 1, the bypass 7 and passages 6 and 5, andthis back pressure forces the liquid out of the chamber 3 through thepassage 22 and past the ball check valve 23 to the chamber 24; throughthe port 25, and down the tubular passage around the coiled spring 26 tothe tube 27, down through which it flows and passes out into thereservoir 28 through. the ports 29. The coiled spring26 holds the checkvalve 23 up against its seat to prevent leakage of air to the chamber 3when the piston is moving downward, and the check valve 17 prevents theback pressure orcompression reaching the passages leading from thechamber 3 to the supply tank 12.

The float 30 controls the level oi. the liquid in. the reservoir 28rising'up closing the valve'15 so that theamount of liquid flowing fromthe supply tank" 12 is re stricted to the amount flowing from thereservoir 28 to the engine. It will thus be apparent that the fuel.maintains a uniform level inthe reservoir 28 when the engine is inoperation. After the reservoir 28 is once filled to its normal level thevalve 15 may be almost entirely closed and the, amount of liquidthereafter flowing into the intermediate chamber 3 may not be enough tocause the float 19 to rise suiiiciently to close the valve 21., t

The storage reservoir that forms a passage between the vacuum chamberand the constant level reservoir of the carbureter, as used inconnection with other fuel supply devices, may be eliminated, when thereservoir 28 is positioned in respect to the carburetor fuel jets (notshown), so that when the engine is at rest the reservoir 28 is notemptied by the fuel overflowing said ets.

The reservoir 28 may bev made integral with the carburetor body as shownin Fig. 1, the said body being partly broken off to the right side ofthe reservoir 28.

The fuel passage 29 conveys the fuel from the reservoir 28 to vthecarburetor jets in the usual manner, and the fuel supply may berestricted at the" discharge jets (not shown) or at any point betweenthe discharge jets and the reservoir 28 by a cali "brated jet, or as byhaving a needle valve 29 to control the flow of the fuel.

The valve 21 as shown is guided at both ends and it is loosely extendedentirely through the float 19 and guides the latter to prevent ittouching the walls of the chamher 3. The float 19 has considerablevertical movement without imparting movement to the valve 21 whichobviously minimizes the wear to the valve and its guiding means.

In Fig. 4, a ball float 19 controls the communication between theintermediate chamher 3' and the air pressure varying cylinder 2, a valve21 being adapted to close the suction passage 8 when the float rises toa predetermined. level. Excessive compression in the chamber 3' may beprevented by a check valve 31 which is held seated by a coiled spring 32to prevent leakage of air when the piston a is moving downward.

The tension of the spring 32 may be adjusted by means of an adjustingscrew 33 and loch nut 34. When the compression in the chamber 3' issuilicient to overcome the spring tension against the ball valve 31, airwil'i flow out to the atmosphere through the passages 35 and 36. Theby-pass passage 37 around the needle valve 21' and the pipe 1', aliordsmeans of communication between the air pressure varying means and thechamber 3 I When the liquid is sucked into the chann her 3 its flow iscontrolled by the valve 15 and float 30'. The liquid enters at 38 andpasses down around the valve 15' to the passage 16 then up past thecheck valve 17' and into the chamber 3' through the port 89. W hen theliquid fills the chamber 3 to a predetermined level the float 19" risesandthe coiled spring all then lifts the valve also that the compressionstroke of the piston 1 Will force the liquid out under the head of thevalve ll and through the passage i2 past the check valve 43 and downinto the storage reservoir 28', through the passage 451-. The latterpassage is positioned to one side of the float 30 so that the in flowingliquid is prevented from disturbing the float. hen the liquid is thusdischarged from the chamber 3, the float 15) is lowered and its weightovercomes the tension of the spring and causes the valve 41 to close toprevent leakage of compression. The valve -11. may be especiallydesirable when employing the combustion chamber oF an internalcombustion engine. for the air pressure varying means. Sometimes thefloat 19' may act in place of the valve 4:1.

in Fig. 5 the liquid passages leading to and from the chamber 3' areshown in a more compact form, and this figure clearly shows the same tobe in a form which is easily manufactured, the passages 18, ll). 42, and4% being; drilled from. the exterior of the body and screw plugs beingemployed to close the external ends of the several passages. I

The construction of this fuel. supply apparatus may be Widely variedfrom that shown Without departing from the scope of the invention andthe various valves l() 31 and 411 such as shown, may not always beneeded to cause the proper functioning ot the fuel supply apparatus: andthe absence:

of either or all (it said valves does not ex clude the structures frombeing within the scope of the invention. The various valves may al-o beshifted from one structure to the other in. order to obtain the properfunctioning of the device.

This invention may he applied to any other device where a liquid supplysystem.

may be used, as well as for the purpose above described.

The iassagrcs 35 and 3F and the parls li, 33 and 34- should beeliminated when the valve 31 is eliminated.

A lever a5 as shown in Fig. 4 may be employed to increase the pressureof the tloaton the valve 17) shown in Fin. 1. when desired.

l. A fuel supply apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprisinga source of supply, a storage reservoir, a float in said storagereservoir to control the fuel level therein, an intermediate chamberforming a passage between the source of supply and the storagereservoir, air pressure varying means for varying the air pressure inthe intermediate chamber from subatmospheric pressure tosiiper-atmospheric pressure, so that the sub-atmospheric pressuresuclrsfuel into said intermediate chamber and the super-atmosphericpressure forces the fuel into said Forage reservoir, andmeans to controlthe comnmnication between the air pressure varvinpmeans and saidintermediate chamber.

2. A "fuel supply apparatus comprising a source oi supply, a storagereservoir, a float in said storage reservoir to control the fuel leveltherein, an intermediate chamber forming a passage between the source ofsupply and the storage reservoir. air pressure varying means for varyingthe air pressure in the intermediate chamber from sub-atmospheric tosuperatmospheric pressure, so that the sub-atmospheric pressure suclrsfuel into said intermediate chamber and the super-atmospheric pressuretorces the fuel into said storage reservoir, and means-to autoniaticallycontrol the comnninication between the air pressure varying: means andsaid intermediate chamber.

A fuel supply apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising asource of supply, a storage reservoir, :1 lioat in Said storagereservoir to control the Fuel level therein, an intermediate chamberforming a passage between the source of supply and the storagereservoir. air pressure varying means for varying: the air pressure inthe intermediate chamber from SlliktltIUtWPllQllC pressure tosupcr-atinosphcric pre re.

so that the sub-atoms;)horic pressure sucks fuel. into said intermediatechamber and the? super-atinosphcric pressure forces the fuel into saidstorage reservoir. and a float in nal combustion cng coitnp oi supply. astorage -voir, stoi rcscrvoir to 4; therein. an intermediaw chainpassage bei'wccn the sourc o'if the storage rt crvoir. air i means forvarying the air intermediate rhainhcr from s prcssurc to sn;cr-aiznosplu-ric pi inp the opcraliou oi said on PM so that thesub-atniospiu-ric prr sure s fuel into said intermediate chamber and-the superatmospheric pressure forces the? fuel into said storagereservoir. and a tioat in the in termediate chamber to control thecommunication between the air pressure varying means and said i nmediatechamber.

. 5. A fuel. supply apparatus for an int-ernal combustion enginecomprising a source of supply, a storage reservoir, a float in saidstorage reservoir to control the fuel level therein, an intermediatechamber forming a passage between the source of supply and the storagereservoir, air pressure varying means for varying the air pressure inthe intermediate chamber from sub-atmospheric pressure tosuper-atmospheric pressure, so that the sub-atmospheric pressure sucksfuel into said. intermediate chamber and the super-atmosphericpressureforces the fuel into said storage reservoir, said air pressure varyingmeans being operated by said engine, and a float in the intermediatechain ber to control the communication between the air pressure varyingmeans and said in termediate chamber.

6. A fuel supply apparatus comprising a source of supply, a storagereservoir, an intermediate chamber forming a passage between the sourceof supply and the storage reservoir, a non-return valve to prevent fluidflowing to the source of supply from the intermediate chamber, airpressure varyingmeans for varying the air pressure in the intermediatechamber from sub-atmospheric to super-atmospheric pressure, means tocontrol the-communication between the air pres-- sure varying means andsaid. intermediate chamber, and means to control the communicationbetween thesource of supply and the said intermediate chamber.

7. A. fuel supply apparatus comprising a source of supply, a storagereservoir, an intermediate chamber forming a passage between the sourceof supply and the storage reservoir, a non-return valve to prevent fluidflowing to the source of supply from the intermediate chamber, airpressure varying means for varying the air pressure in the intermediatechamber from Stlb-fttlllOSPllBllC to super-atmospheric pressure, a floatin the intermediate chamber to control the communication between the airpressure varying means and said intermediate chamber,v

and means to control the communication between the source of supply andthe said intermediate chamber. 4

8. A fuel supply apparatus comprislng a source of supply, astoragereservoir, an intermediate chamber forming a passage between thesource of supply and the storage reservoir, air pressure varying meansfor varying the air pressure in the intermediate chamber fromsub-atmospheric to superstmospheric pressure, means to control thecommunication between the air pressure varying means and saidintermediate chamber, and a float in the storage reservoir to controlthe communication between the source of supply and the said intermediatechamber.

9. A fuel supply apparatus comprising a source of supply, a storagereservoir, an

intense the storagereservoir to control the communication between thesource of supply and the said intermediate chamber.

10. A fuel supply apparatus con'lprising' a source of supply, a storagereservoir, an intermediate chamber forming a passage between, the sourceof supply and the storage reservoir, air pressure varying means forvarying the air pressure in the intermediate chamber fromsub-atmospheric to super-at mospheric pressure, a float in said storagereservoir toi control the level of the fuel therein, and means toprevent excessive compression forming in aiddntermediate chamber.

11. A fuel supply apparatus comprising a source of supply, a storagereservoir, an intermediate chamber forming a passage between the sourceof supply and the storage reservoir, air pressure varying means forvarying the air pressure in the intermediate chamber fromsub-atmospheric to super-atmospheric pressure, andmeans to prevent airflowing from the intermediate chamber to said storage reservoir.

12. A fuel pumping apparatus having communication with an internalcombustion engine, a combustion chamber for said engine, a fuelreservoir, a vacuum chamber for receiving fuel, a connection betweensaid vacuum chamber and said combustion chamher, said connection beingclosed to prevent admission of air from the atmosphere and so arrangedthat the pressure created in said combustion chamber causes fuel to beforced into said reservoir from said vacuum chamber, a float in saidreservoir, and a valve having communication-with said float so as tocontrol the pumping of the fuel, the flow .of fuel between, said vacuumchamber and said reservoir being unresisted by said valve.

13. A fuel pumping apparatus having communication with an internalcombustion engine including a compression chamber,

means for creating super-atmospheric pressure in said compressionchamber, a fuel reservoir, a vacuum chamber for receiving fuel, aconnection between said vacuum chamber and said compression chamber,said connection being closed to prevent admission of air from theatmosphere and so arranged that the pressure created in said compressionchamber causes fuel to be forced into said reservoir from said vacuumchamber, a float in'said reservoir, and a valve communicating with saidfloat so as to con' trol the pumping of the fuel, the flow of fuelbetween said vacuum chamber and said reservoir being unresisted by saidvalve.

14. A fuel supply apparatus for an internal combustion engine includinga storage reservoir and a vacuum chamber forming a passage between asource of supply and the storage reservoir, said vacuum chambercommunicating with a combustion chamber of said engine so that thepressiu'e created in said engine combustion chamber causes liquid fuelto be forced from said vacuum chamber and into said storage reservoir,said vacuum chamber being of cylindrical shape and having areciprocating device therein preventing the liquid fuel rising above thetop of said vacuum chamber, and a float in said storage reservoircontrolling the fuel level therein.

15. A fuel pumping apparatus having a storage reservoir and a vacuumchamber forming a passage between a source of, liquid fuel supply andsaid storage reservoir, means for pumping liquid fuel from said sourceof supply to the storage reservoir by way of said vacuum chamber, meansto prevent the return of the fuel to the vacuum chamber from saidstorage reservoir in the operation of the pumping apparatus, said vacuumchamber being substantially sealed to prevent an appreciable amount ofair entering the same in the operation of the pumping apparatus, theflow of the fuel to the storage reservoir being under the influence ofpressure greater than atmospheric pressure, and a float in the storagereservoir to control the pumping of the fuel.

16. A fuel pumping apparatus having a storage reservoir and a vacuumchamber forming a passage between a source of liquid fuel supply andsaid storage reservoir, means for pumping liquid fuel from said "sourceof supply to the storage reservoir by way of said vacuum chamber, meansto prevent the return of the fuel to the vacuum chamber from saidstorage reservoir in the operation of the pumping apparatus, the flow offuel to the storage reservoir being under) the influence of pressuregreater than that of the atmosphere, a float in the storage reservoir, avalve con trolled by said float so as to control the pumping of thefuel, said valve being so POSitlOIlOtl and arranged that its openingmovement is unassisted by super-atmosphericpressure.

17. A fuel supply apparatus for internal combustion engines including asuction chamber or passageway provided with inlet and outlet valves, astorage reservoir, a suction device communicatingwith said passagewaywhich exerts suction on said inlet valve to cause fuel to enter saidpassageway,

said suc iondevice being so arranged that it exerts pressure on saidoutlet valve intermittently when the engine is in operation so as toforce the fuel out of said passageway and into a storage reservoir, saidvalves being so arranged and controlled that the fuel flows in onedirection onlythrough each of said valves in the operation of theengine,

, a float in said reservoir to control the level inlet valve to causefuel to enter said pasvsageway, said suction device being so arrangedthat it exerts pressure on said outlet valve intermittently when theengine is in operation so as to force the fuel out of said passagewayand into said carbureter reservoir, said valves being so arranged andcontrolled that the fuel flows in one direction only through each ofsaid valves in the operation of the engine, a float in said reservoir tocontrol the level of the fuel therein, said passageway beingsubstantially sealed to prevent the admission of an appreciable amountof air in the operation of theengine, and a needle valve to control theflow from the carbureter reservoir. r

19. A fuel supply apparatus-including a storage reservoir, a source ofsupply, an intermediate chamber communicating with said storagereservoir and the source of supply, means for' reducing the air pressurein said intermediate chamber for lifting fuel thereto from said sourceof supply, a float in the intermediate chamber to control thecommunication between the latter chamber and the air pressure reducingmeans, and a float in the storage reservoir to control the communicationbetween the source of supply and the intermediate chamber.

20'. A fuel supply apparatus comprising a source of supply, a sto'agereservoir, an intermediate chamber forming a passage between the sourceof supply and the storage reservoir, means for reducing the air pressurein the intermediate chamber for lifting fuel thereto from the supplytank,

means to control-the communication between the air pressure reducingmeans and said iritermediate chamber, and a float in the stora ereservoir tocontrol the communication etween the source of supply andthe said intermediate chamber.

WILLIAM s. GUTHRIE.

